77 times, the Heisman Trophy has been awarded to the top player in college football. Not one of those times has it ever been awarded to a freshman.
On Saturday night at the Best Buy Theater in New York City, number 78 went to a freshman.
In 2012, the Heisman Trophy voters awarded the trophy to Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o finished second in the voting while Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein was third.
He led his his Aggies to a 10-2 mark including 6-2 in the SEC, a conference in which they were playing in for the first time. Manziel threw for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also ran for 1,181 yards and 19 touchdowns.
If he can repeat his performance in 2013, Manziel could be the first person since Archie Griffin (1974-75) to win the trophy twice.
Manziel is the second Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M. John David Crow was the first in 1957.
For a full look at the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting totals, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.
2012 Heisman Trophy Voting Totals | ||||
Name | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M | 474 | 252 | 103 | 2,029 |
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame | 321 | 309 | 125 | 1,706 |
Collin Klein, Kansas State | 60 | 197 | 320 | 894 |
Marquise Lee, USC | 19 | 33 | 84 | 207 |
Braxton Miller, Ohio State | 3 | 29 | 77 | 144 |
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina | 4 | 13 | 23 | 61 |
Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois | 3 | 8 | 27 | 52 |
Tavon Austin, West Virginia | 6 | 4 | 21 | 47 |
Kenjon Barner, Oregon | 1 | 12 | 15 | 42 |
Jarvis Jones, Georgia | 1 | 10 | 18 | 41 |
And here is the breakdown of votes by region:
2012 Heisman Trophy Voting Totals By Region | |||
– | Manziel | Te'o | Klein |
Far West | 325 | 281 | 127 |
Southwest | 348 | 274 | 220 |
Midwest | 312 | 315 | 126 |
South | 399 | 253 | 149 |
Mid-Atlantic | 326 | 272 | 141 |
Northeast | 319 | 311 | 131 |
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photo credit: getty images